My house was built in 1986. When it was built the basement walls were covered in a black tar type paper (name??) from ceiling to floor ( and under the framing. Insulation was then added again from ceiling to floor and the entire job was ciovered by a plastic vapour barrier. I understand that the preferred solution would have had the black paper cfover to just below grade and the insulation stop about a foot or two from the floor, however it does not seem to have caused any problems. Is this a serious problem, or can I just let well enough alone? (I live in Ottawa Ontario = significant winters). Thanks

 

Greetings.

If I understand you right, you have no insulation in the top 24" of your base ment walls.

I've seen this before, some thing about not needing it there for some obsure reason. The black paper will not hurt as it is not a vapor barrier. The insulation should go to the floor.

However if you insulatioon is condensating moisture, particularly in the mian house walls, that could lead to rotting out of the wall studs since the paper will dam the water. Could also lead to mold problems. If you know that there is none of the above you're probably ok.